Friday, May 18, 2012

You can't yet get gay-married in Maryland, but you can get gay-divorced.

The
Court of Appeals ruled 7-0 that couples who have a valid marriage from
another state can divorce in Maryland. The case involved two women who
were married in California and denied a divorce in 2010 by a Maryland
judge. “A valid out-of-state same-sex marriage should be treated by
Maryland courts as worthy of divorce, according to the applicable
statues, reported cases, and court rules of this state,” the court
concluded in a 21-page ruling. It said Maryland courts should withhold
recognition of a valid foreign marriage only if that marriage is
“repugnant” to state public policy. The court says the threshold is a
high bar that has not been met in the case that it ruled on.

President
Joyce Banda has said she wants Malawi to overturn its ban on homosexual
acts - the first African country to do so since 1994. Two Malawian men
were sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2010 after saying they were
getting married. Several Western leaders have recently said they would
cut aid to countries which did not recognise gay rights. In her first
state of the nation address to parliament, Mrs Banda said: "Some laws
which were duly passed by the august house... will be repealed as a
matter of urgency... these include the provisions regarding indecent
practices and unnatural acts." The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in the main
city, Blantyre, says the president has the support of a majority of MPs
and so should be able to get parliament to overturn the law.

France's
new prime minister yesterday vowed to fulfill the promise of
just-elected President Francois Holland (above right) and implement full civil marriage equality for same-sex couples.

A
communiqué issued by the office of the prime minister, Jean-Marc
Ayrault, who took office on 15 May, marked the International Day Against
Homophobia and Transphobia yesterday with a pledge to put the
president’s manifesto promise into law. It said: “On the occasion of
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Prime Minister
reaffirmed the Government’s commitment against violence and
discrimination perpetrated as a result of sexual orientation or gender
identity. The Government is determined to challenge prejudice and to
put an end to discrimination and violence. It will implement the commitment of the President of the Republic to the right to marriage and adoption to gay couples.”

Public Policy Polling has published a fascinating result out of North Carolina, where support for gay marriage has surged among black voters such the president's announcement.

There's
been a noticeable shift in the attitudes of African Americans in North
Carolina toward rights for gay couples in the wake of President Obama's
announcement last week that he supports gay marriage. Our final poll
before the primary last week found only 20% of black voters in the state
favoring gay marriage, with 63% opposed. Now 27% express support for
gay marriage with 59% opposed, for an overall 11 point shift on the
margin.

There's been a similar movement when it comes to the
overall idea of providing gay couples legal rights in the form of either
marriage or civil unions. Before the primary 44% of African Americans
favored one of those with 51% opposed to any sort of legal recognition
for same sex couples. Now 55% of blacks support either gay marriage or
civil unions with only 39% against any sort of recognition. Obama's words look to be having an impact.

Tricycle Daily DharmaMay 18, 2012

Sitting Still

If
we watch our breathing without desiring calmness and without resenting
the tension arising from breathing in and out, and experience only the
impermanence, the unsatisfactoriness, and selflessness of our breath,
our mind becomes peaceful and calm.

U.S.-born
Daniel Clark Orey and his Brazi-born husband Milton Rosa find it easier
to live in Brazil because the government recognizes their California
marriage license. Because of DOMA, Orey can't sponsor Rosa for a U.S.
green card